New Crest volleyball coach a familiar face for program

By Clark Leonard

Published: Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at 04:00 PM.

She remembers regular trips to the fourth round playing for Grayson. Her final loss as a player, a playoff contest against Providence, is still a sore subject. It’s that kind of competitive nature she hopes to transfer to her players.

“I’m excited to be back,” Wilson said. “I’m excited to inspire them to play great volleyball.”

Jamie Wilson is Crest High’s new volleyball coach, but this isn’t her first experience with the program.

A former head coach and player at Crest, she’s looking forward to being back on the sidelines. Her passion for the sport was rekindled when she coached some of the current Lady Chargers on the Carolina Bombers club team.

“I realized how much I missed it,” Wilson said.

She previously served as an assistant coach at Burns for three years before taking over as Crest's head coach from 2003-07. She compiled a 36-0 Big South 3A/4A Conference record and three league titles in her final three seasons.

The 1997 Crest graduate played volleyball and softball for coach Suzanne Grayson.

“She was a huge inspiration to me,” Wilson said. “She was tough, but she knew how to win. She taught me a lot about how to work hard, about life.”

Wilson is a speech pathologist for Crest High and Springmore Elementary, having earned her undergraduate and master’s degrees at Appalachian State as a Teaching Fellow.

She remembers regular trips to the fourth round playing for Grayson. Her final loss as a player, a playoff contest against Providence, is still a sore subject. It’s that kind of competitive nature she hopes to transfer to her players.

“I’m excited to be back,” Wilson said. “I’m excited to inspire them to play great volleyball.”